2002 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG and SLK32 AMG

A pair of wicked runners from the performance office.

Lift the C32's hood, and no longer is the engine hidden beneath a stylized black plastic cover, now the Mercedes norm. The cast alloy induction covers, with the supercharger sitting neatly between the banks of cylinders, demonstrate that AMG understands the visual appeal of an exciting engine. It sounds exciting, too. The mechanical hum of the compressor struggles to match the booming exhaust when the right foot is planted. This V-6 also sounds smoother and more relaxed than Mercedes' gruff four-cylinder supercharged engines, and since the C32 inherits the new C-class's ability to slip through the air quietly, it's a great long-distance cruiser with a range of about 350 miles, provided you can cope with the constant whir from the tires. The mildly disguised C32--no flared wheel arches here--sits 1.2 inches lower over new twin-spoke AMG wheels and 17-inch rubber. Only those horrid badges, twin oval exhaust pipes, and discreet nose spoiler and side skirts give the game away, and even these can be deleted if desired. The C32 is luxuriously equipped with plenty of rich leather and aluminum rather than wood trim.

True to the philosophy at AMG, the C32 and the SLK32 ignore the current trend in Europe toward automatically shifted manual transmissions in favor of Mercedes' five-speed automatic. AMG has tweaked the shift program to speed up gearchanges by 35 percent, introduced mechanical torque-converter lockup from second gear, and added a degree of intelligence to the transmission's brain. It works brilliantly and plays a crucial role in enhancing a more sporting character. The so-called Speedshift auto drops down a ratio, even two, in hard braking; it holds onto gears through corners, even when the throttle is feathered, and always seems to pick up the ideal ratio to maximize performance.

You can still tap the selector sideways to change gears manually, but so intuitive is the gearbox that this quickly becomes redundant. The changes aren't quite Mercedes-seamless, but their speed (faster than the best manual, according to AMG) mates perfectly with the engine's dynamic personality. Or it can be as gentle and easy to drive as any Mercedes automatic. But the automatic-pilot feeling disappears if you punch the ESP (electronic stability program) switch. You want to play, the C32 obliges, instantly converting into a power-oversteering, tire-shredding brute. It's a momentary phase, quickly replaced by a sense of throttle-controlled adjustability coupled with real steering agility and bite on initial turn-in.

The C32's reactions at the limit are measured, predictable, confident. Introduce the ESP to the equation, and the handling is tidy and quick, although the natural tendency to mild understeer can't be avoided. It's so casually quick, the ability to sustain speed is deceptive. There's massive grip on dry and wet roads, yet it copes easily with midcorner bumps. The ride, helped by the highly adjustable comfort of the heavily bolstered bucket seats, is firm but never as taut as in an M3. Massive cross-drilled and vented front discs offer immense stopping power.

AMG quotes the same 0-to-62-mph time of 5.2 seconds for the SLK32, despite the sports car's being 300 pounds lighter than the C32. Turns out it's entirely up to the driver's skill in controlling the wheelspin. In fact, AMG says sub-5.0-second times to 60 mph are the norm. In the two-seater, the V-6 is more vocal and the antiquated recirculating-ball steering feels less fluent, in part because the steering wheel itself is so big in diameter and the rim so thick. It's more hot rod than the C32, and less coherent and balanced than a Boxster S, yet even quicker in a straight line. That small lip added to the trunklid reduces lift by 50 percent and makes a discernible difference to high-speed stability. But the SLK is beginning to show its age in the interior and in a ride that lacks the quality of the new C-class chassis. Inevitably, the C32 faces a shootout with the M3. But in reality, the AMG is a different animal, less narrow in its sporting focus, yet still combining sledgehammer performance with relaxed handling, cultured comfort, and practicality. All in one.

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